The delicious blackberry fruit is one of the sweetest summer fruits. However, because the fruiting season is short, it is difficult (if not impossible) to get good blackberries at other times of the year. To maximize the summer harvest - freeze blackberries at the peak of their ripeness to ensure you have this delicious fruit all year round! See Step 1 below to get started!
Step
Method 1 of 3: Freezing Sugarless Blackberry
Step 1. Wash the blackberry gently
When you have picked (or purchased) some ripe and juicy blackberries, gently wash them thoroughly. Pour the blackberries into a colander and wash them under cold water while rubbing gently with your fingers. Allow to dry well and dry gently with a soft towel to remove any remaining water.
When you wash and dry your blackberries, sort them to get rid of any rotten, unripe or damaged ones. You can also remove leaves, soil or other debris
Step 2. Spread the blackberries on the baking sheet
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread the blackberries so that none of them touch each other. Don't forget to put the parchment paper – without it, the blackberries will freeze on the baking sheet and break when you pick them up.
- If you have so many blackberries that there's no room left, it's okay to just pour them all over the pan. But if you want the blackberries to separate later, you'll need to break up a batch of frozen blackberries.
- If you want the blackberries to stay separate, it's better to use parchment paper in a second layer on top of the first blackberry layer so that there is double space.
Step 3. Put the blackberries in the freezer
Place the baking sheet flat in the freezer (so the blackberries don't roll to one side of the pan) and allow to freeze completely. You can leave the blackberries in the freezer overnight to make sure they freeze completely. When you do this, don't forget the blackberries - left uncovered in the freezer blackberries can experience a frost sting within a few days.
Step 4. Transfer the blackberries to a freezer-proof bag
When your blackberries are hard frozen, put them in a plastic freezer bag. Remove as much air as possible from the bag, and seal it, and put it back in the freezer. The thicker the plastic and the less air in the bag, the better - thinner bags and air pockets can cause freeze shock.
- If you have a vacuum sealer (such as a FoodSaver), use it here to remove air from the bag for the best protection against frostbite.
- The alternative. If you're not worried about your blackberries freezing together, you can skip freezing them in the pan and immediately store the washed and dried blackberries in the freezer bag. If you do this, the blackberries will freeze together into large lumps, which can spoil the appearance, but won't change the taste.
Step 5. Freeze for up to six months
Blackberrys that are frozen like this can last at least six months, although some sources recommend using them for up to eight months from the freeze date. Frozen blackberries can be used in cooking and baking (blackberry pie for example) and can even be enjoyed half-frozen alone or with a sprinkle of sugar.
As a general rule, you shouldn't thaw blackberries before using them in baked goods, as this will increase the liquid content. For more information on using frozen blackberries, see the article below
Method 2 of 3: Freezing Blackberry with Sugar
Step 1. Wash and dry the blackberry as usual
Sweetening blackberries before freezing can preserve the natural color and texture of blackberries during freezing. Also makes blackberries last longer in the freezer. Freezing sweetened blackberries requires the same washing process as unsweetened blackberries: wash and dry gently, then allow to dry naturally or use a soft towel to absorb any remaining water.
As above, you can also remove any unripe or overripe blackberries before proceeding, as well as any leaves and debris
Step 2. Mix with sugar
Next, put the blackberries in a large bowl and add about to cup of sugar for every four cups of blackberries. Stir the blackberries and sugar until smooth, but gently - the goal is to coat the blackberries with sugar,, no crush it into jam or paste. The sugar will mix with the water from the blackberry (along with the broken blackberry liquid) into a syrup that coats the blackberry.
Step 3. Put the blackberries in an airtight bag or container
Next, place the blackberry in an airtight, sealed plastic container (for example, Tupperware). Try to fill the container almost to the top of the container - leaving about 1.25 cm of space at the top of the container. The less air remaining in the container the better, but avoid squeezing the blackberries into too small a container as this will destroy the blackberries.
- You can also use the plastic freezer bag described above, although with sweetened blackberries, it can get messy.
- There's no need to freeze the blackberries with the sugar separately, as the sugar helps to protect their appearance and texture from the effects of freezing. However, if you want separate frozen blackberries, you can use the method with the baking sheet listed above without damaging the blackberries.
Step 4. Freeze for up to Nine months
Sweetened Blackberry can last a minimum of nine months, although some sources say it can last up to a whole year. Freeze blackberries can be used like unsweetened blackberries in a variety of baked goods recipes, or simply enjoyed. However, when using blackberries in a baked recipe, it is important to include the sugar that has been included with the blackberries count the sugar and adjust the recipe accordingly.
Because of this point, it's a wise idea to label the frozen container listing the number of blackberries in the container and the amount of sugar included with the date it started freezing
Method 3 of 3: Using a Frozen Blackberry
Step 1. Don't thaw the blackberries for most grill recipes
As noted above, when using frozen blackberries in baked goods, it's best not to thaw them before adding them to the batter. Because defrosting will add additional solution to the dough and lead to a mushy, runny final product.
There are those who find that thawing frozen blackberries half way in the microwave before baking produces excellent results without adding too much water. If you want to try it, note the exact time you put the blackberry in the microwave as this varies according to the number of blackberries and the power of your microwave
Step 2. Roll the frozen blackberries in the flour to prevent the water from escaping
Sometimes, when using frozen blackberries in a grill recipe, the blackberries may "bleed", causing the color of the dough to change. While this doesn't affect the taste, it can make the final look less appealing. To minimize the bleeding effect, try rolling the frozen blackberries in the flour, before adding them to your recipe mix. This helps retain water in the blackberry minimizing "bleeding".
Step 3. Freeze blackberries for liquid cooking
There comes a time when you need to thaw your blackberries for use in recipes. Usually in cases like this, the extra liquid that results from defrosting blackberries is beneficial for dishes such as blackberry sauce and toppings for ice cream, shortcakes, and so on. To thaw blackberries quickly, place them in an airtight plastic bag (or leave them in their original freezer bag) and soak them in cold water for 10-15 minutes.
To keep the bag of blackberries floating and melting unevenly, you can add weights such as a heavy bowl or plate
Step 4. Thaw blackberries to eat raw
Another situation you'll want to thaw a blackberry is when you want to eat it unprocessed. While frozen blackberries are a delicious summer snack, sometimes regular blackberries just don't match up. To get raw blackberries, you can use the swatch method above, or leave them on the kitchen counter overnight. Soak blackberries in clean, cold water after thawing, to wash off ice or other frozen residue. Now you can also choose blackberries and get rid of blackberries that are destroyed or damaged.
